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Kyle Tomlinson was one of five lucky contestants to get a "golden buzzer" during the auditions for Britain's Got Talent – earning him a guaranteed place in the semi-finals, after one judge deemed him the most impressive act in the whole competition.

He was voted through to the final after Monday night's semi-final, but who is he? Here's everything you need to know about the 15-year-old singer.

He auditioned for Britain's Got Talent in 2014 – and flopped

Three years ago, Sheffield-born singer Kyle Tomlinson plucked up the courage to appear on Britain's Got Talent – and was promptly rejected by all four judges. He was particularly hurt by David Walliams, who told him (rather harshly, Tomlinson recalls) to get a singing teacher. He was just 12 years old at the time, and was stung by the comedian's comments. "At first, I thought, 'I hate you'... but he was right!" Tomlinson has said. He took Walliams's advice, and asked his grandfather to pay for his singing lessons.

David Walliams made amends for last time

Returning for another audition this year, Tomlinson covered Leonard Cohen's song Hallelujah in a heartfelt performance that left both him and the judges looking tearful by the end. After slamming the golden buzzer, Walliams climbed on stage to give the singer a hug, telling him: "You know what? You've sung with real passion, and that's what it's all about", before adding, "It was a really, really moving performance. I'm glad you came back and proved me wrong."

What is the golden buzzer?

Usually, hearing a buzzer in Britain's Got Talent is a bad thing – it's a sign that one of the judges was very unimpressed. If all four judges press their buzzers mid-performance, the act is booted offstage without even being given the chance to finish. Anyone who can make it through without being buzzed off then has to hope for at least three "yes" votes from the panel in order to reach the next round.

But since 2014, the show has also featured a "golden buzzer". Each judge is only allowed to press it once in the whole series, and can use it to guarantee their favourite act a place in the semi-final – regardless of how the other judges vote.

He faced violent bullying at school

Following his passion for music has made life difficult for Tomlinson. “I’m a big lad so I’ve always been bullied in school. People picked on me for singing and said I was rubbish. They took the mick out of me and took advantage," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

At times, his schoolmates' behaviour could be vioulent. “I once got smashed across the face with a metal scooter," he said. "But, you know, that’s life – sometimes you have to literally take it on chin.”

His role model is Susan Boyle

Tomlinson first decided that he wanted to take part in Britain's Got Talent after watching Susan Boyle on the show in 2009. "She was the one that inspired me to do it in the first place," he said, in a recent interview with On Demand Entertainment. "I saw her, and everyone laughed at her when she said 'I want to be an international superstar'... and it kind of reminded me of me, a bit."

His grandfather will be cheering him on from hospital

After he made it through the auditions, Tomlinson phoned up his 79-year-old grandfather Cyril, who supported him through his singing training but is now hospitalised with terminal cancer. "My nan and grandad couldn't make it to the audition. He was waiting by the phone and they cried when I went through," Tomlinson told the Star. "My grandad said me going through 'made his life' which makes me so proud. He is planning to watch it in hospital with all the nurses."